There isn’t much to say about the game really. Cash dropped a major clanger and Mings was shocking when trying to defend against Lukaku, who totally changed the game when he came on.
It was the right result although I thought we did well in the first half. The second half was a different story and I moaned to the missus that it was yet another game of two halves.
That said, if you were going to predict the result before the season had even started you’d say we were going to lose. So it was and I can’t get massively upset about it.
The only thing that surprises me is that we’re still eleventh in the league. It just proves how low the standard is this season, to my mind.
And that was our final game of 2021 which led to me thinking about the transfer window and who Stevie G might be looking to bring in.
Let me say straight away that I really don’t expect us to get many players in; maybe two at most and you might add in a couple of loan signings too.
Here are my thoughts and I’m interested in yours in return;
I can’t think who of the kids is our left back, but Targett, who I do like, needs some competition. I don’t think the position is a priority though, as much as I think it’s the one position that’s particularly vulnerable if attacked correctly. Young can cover left back, but it’s not ideal, in my opinion.
Matty Cash, who despite dropping a major gooley last night has been excellent and possibly our most consistent player this season. Don’t believe me? (and some definitely don’t, having read elsewhere) check his stats. He’s the hardest running player at the club, for instance. We have back up amongst the kids and Guilbert won’t be recalled anytime soon.
Defence?
Well, after last night I’m tempted to say I’d replace Mings. Somewhat begrudgingly though, as I just don’t rate him, I have to accept that he has been pretty good for the majority of this season. He’s safe, as is Konsa. Tuanzebe and Hause are decent reserves and I don’t see anything happening in that area.
Midfield?
I think we have a major weakness in this area. It’s particularly where you need leaders and McGinn is the only one who’s anything like. We need a Keane or Gerrard type; the sort who can drive a team on. As well as someone who can stick the foot in. Nakamba had just started doing the latter and it’s typical of us where just as he’s coming good, so he’s out for pretty much the rest of the season.
On paper, we have some very decent players; Luiz, Sanson, Buendia and Bailey, with Philogene-Bidace and Chukwuemeka as reserves seems okay, but I’m not convinced. It’s the area where we often lose games and it needs strengthening.
The problem with that is that you don’t want to cut off the chances of the kids getting playing time and three of our existing players are new and expensive. I’m sure the owners would expect that we give them as much chance as possible before we totally write them off.
And then there are the wide, luxury players. Traore and El Ghazi have both had minutes during Gerrard’s tenure, but I don’t think they have much of a future at the Villa. They, along with Trezeguet might be used for funds in to pay for an incomer.
Will the manager go back to Rangers for one of their midfielders? Possibly, but I’d guess it would be more for running than anything else. None of their mids strike me as better than our existing players.
Which leaves the attackers.
Davis is a goner, either on loan or sold. Although you wouldn’t buy him for his strikerate, someone might be interested in him as a foil for a smaller attacker who needs feeding and he can do that job well, having good hold up play type skills.
And then we have Ings and Watkins.
It goes without saying that they just don’t work together. I’ve seen it said that it’s because Watson won’t pass to Ings. That’s rubbish, in my opinion. It’s more that Ings just doesn’t get himself into the game enough.
I’ve also seen it said that Watkins has a terrible first touch and no footballing brain. That may well be true, but he always gets involved and will at least have a chance or two.
Ings ought to be back up for Watkins at best or sold. Again though, he was expensive and we won’t be writing that spend off just yet. I do think we could do with another striker, but we are not going to be spending the sort of money we’ve already wasted on Ings and Wesley in this winter window.
Maybe we’ll get someone like Lukaku who can create something for the rest of the team to feed off in the summer?
So in short, I’m a bit flummoxed.
We definitely need improvements, yet we have too many players who only came recently and haven’t got going yet and too many decent kids who already aren’t getting enough playing time.
Where do you squeeze any new players in and who doesn’t get to play?
I think this season is now more about consolidation. That’s a step back from where we should be, but there are just too many players that need to be given more time. I don’t think anybody will be too happy about that, but I really don’t see much happening at all.
You can guarantee there will be dozens of storys about supposed transfers though.
I think even more than usual, I’ll be taking them with a massive pinch of salt.
Comments
50 responses to “Villa 1 – 3 Chelsea: I expected nothing. Who stays and who goes?”
Ha, I thought this was going to be a straightforward post.Ie, we need players, here are the positions I think we need.
The reality, after thinking about it, is nowhere near as easy.
Indeed, it wouldn’t surprise me if we don’t buy anyone at all.
The January window is a bad time to buy and usually only worth using if you need a Darren Bent for example to survive relegation. I think we are heading for a mid table position, so for me I would rather see the kids get as much game time as possible. In the summer we can get players who aren’t available at the moment plus the fees will probably be less.
The other way to look at it is we try to sign a couple of players for extortionate fees to try and get a European spot. If we don’t make Europe, you can be certain that the top clubs will be sniffing around the likes of Watkins and McGinn knowing they will want to compete at a higher level.
When everyone is fit I think we have a team capable of beating most teams barring the current top three. A few wins on the trot and suddenly we are pushing for a top six place.
It looks like a few already have one foot out the door with Guilbert, Wesley and Davis very unlikely to return. If Ings doesn’t start to prove himself then we will need alternate cover for Watkins. Archer shows promise and I hope he gets a few run outs to prove himself.
SG hasn’t had much time to analyse his current squad so I don’t expect much action in the next month.
I don’t think I see any of the top clubs coming in for Watkins, Holte.
Don’t get me wrong, I really like him, but think we’re about as good as it gets for him.
McGinn, on the other hand, I can see being sought after. But then, like Grealish, he’s a top player at the club and guaranteed to get a game.
Liverpool are supposed to be after him, but would he play all the time? I’m really not sure he would.
Money aside, I’m not convinced he’d make the same mistake as Grealish myself. And even then, I’d bet we’d match any wages on offer.
Thinking about things even more, I think I’d be concentrating on getting the players who obviously aren’t going to be featuring off the books, with the intention of the wages saved going towards the Summer signings.
Point taken about Gerrard not having had time to analyse the squad, but how long do you need? Particularly when it’s your job?
Surely he’d have been poring over footage of what the players can do coupled with what he’s seen in our games and he must have a pretty good idea about their personalities.
I do agree that we won’t see much business though.
Great article as usual.
Not much to say about the game except that we looked excellent in the first and poor in the second. It was interesting to see how Sanson faired in place of McGinn. Personally I thought he did ok: Showed some skill and clever passes and was generally solid.
The Ings/Watkins situation is really bothering me, though not as much as it must be bothering the coaching staff at VP. Watkins was brilliant against Chelsea, at receiving and controlling the ball from distance but he rarely was able to find Ings: They clearly don’t have a Withe-Shaw partnership but we can’t rule out the coaches finding a way: I am still holding on that Ings wasn’t a write-off but we’ll see.
UTV
I agree about Sanson. He’s one I was 100% writing off as he’d shown very little previously. He was decent against Chelsea though and typical of those who need to be given more time.
It’s just annoying that not one of our latest signings have been anywhere near where we’d expect them to be.
As for Ings, I’m not convinced you can coach an attacking relationship into players.
The Withe-Shaw combo just came naturally, I reckon.
Unfortunately, I just don’t see Watkins and Ings ever working, but like you, hold out hope.
I don’t know what to think on Sanson only to say there was more of him on that game from other games, for his sake and ours use grime him time. But Oli and Ings don’t do it for me also. Looking around it pretty General on other posts. As for Ming I’ve given up on him , one day he’s a star and other days the villain. My take ,unsure of himself and cannot carry captaincy and concentrate on the game, take it off him is my thinking and let’s see if that settle the team. We have some great movies in the game but missing Mcginn he would have handled Luluka with his backside where Mings was bullied. Forget top ten 12th might be what we get this season ,let’s not grab throw outs in Jan as we still have promises in youngsters. Utv.
Mings? Ah yes.
The truth is Bill, I’ve been pretty kind about him lately. Firstly because my dislike of him was seemingly becoming like an obsession at a time when nearly everyone else was singing his praises and saying how great he is.
And secondly because he has actually been pretty decent over the last few weeks and I like to think I slate players when they’ve been poor, but also hand out the plaudits if they’ve done well.
I still don’t rate him.
He’s a last ditch defender, with his biggest strength being his ability to get in a last second block or tear back to get a tackle in, mainly because he hasn’t been able to read the game and has been caught way out of position.
His actual defending was shown exactly for what it is, against Lukaku; half-hearted and lacking urgency.
He’s horrendous at marking too.
Oh and suffers the worst lapses of concentration of any player I can think of.
All that apart, he’s ok 🙂
I think you make a good point about him being unsure of himself.
I think what’s wrong with him comes from an inherent lack of confidence.
I wouldn’t take the captaincy off him now, because I think he doesn’t have that mental toughness about him to handle it and it might actually make him even more unsure of himself.
He should never have been given the role in the first place because he’s too laid back, on the pitch at least, although he’s supposed to be pretty decent in the dressing room.
I still don’t understand why McGinn didn’t get the role, but maybe Smith thought it might bolster Mings’ confidence?
# Give him time.# Sanson ,
Badger, I think Arsenal will be interested in Watkins. They will be in the hunt for a striker now Aubameyang is out of favour and he is an Arsenal fan. For me he is wasted out wide and clearly is our best CF. He can run all day and is prepared to press which is something Ings can’t match. There won’t be much of a resale value on him so personally I would have him as cover for Watkins or a role off the bench.
Its good to see the likes of Ramsey and Chukwuemeka making big strides this season. If Sanson can stay fit 😒 along with Luiz, McGinn and Nakamba, we will have a decent midfield. Also Trezeguet, Traore coming back will improve competition.
The one player I think will be gone without having any input is Bailey. He has injured himself kicking a ball and by running. Also I don’t think he has the qualities needed to become a first team regular. Hopefully he can prove me wrong but a 10 minute cameo against Everton isn’t going to impress many.
Good point. I’d forgotten about Arsenal.
Arteta has stripped Aubameyang of the captaincy and he was dropped against Norwich. Maybe he’s on his way out and Ollie would be a decent fit there, I feel.
Hopefully you’re wrong though.
As for Bailey going so quickly, I’d be surprised in one way, but not in another.
He seems another of those with over-developed muscles putting strain on other weaker ones.
It would be a shame because he’s an entertaining type of player. But so is Traore and I don’t think we can afford those types just yet.
Interesting discussion.
Personally I tend to agree with Holte – I don’t see us doing much buying in January, although a few may go out. I think that the real business will be left to the summer.
And then I’d have to agree with Badger (for once!) regarding Mings.
He was brilliant for us when we were coming up from the Championship, and is a ‘decent’ defender; I also think he’s been a very good choice as captain – very vocal, not afraid to lead by example, etc.
BUT, and it’s a big ‘but’- I do think he’s reached his peak, and it isn’t good enough for a team that wants to be challenging for the top 4 or 6.
Too many mistakes, too many lapses of concentration, whatever; he’s simply not as good as he seems to think that he is, and against the best competition he’s being found-out quite frequently.
I don’t see Taunzebe or Hause as the answer, so I’d stick my neck out here and think that in the summer we would be in the market for a centre-back one or two steps up from Mings – although I have no idea who that would be.
Everyone seems to be broadly in agreement so I’ll beg to differ on a couple of discussion points – acknowledging that I can be more than a little subjective when it comes to matters Villa.
I do like Watkins but he’s some way from being a complete EPL striker and I can’t see him being on Arsenal’s radar at this stage in his career. I think his decision making at times, particularly in and around the 18 yard box, is pretty poor and needs to improve. He is also guilty of losing the ball too many times particularly in areas which can leave us vulnerable.
Although Chelsea’s probably not the best game from which to draw conclusions, I didn’t think Ings played that badly and made some good runs off the ball – the problem was we couldn’t pass in the final third nor did we get enough bodies into the box. 80 minutes before our one and only shot on target and that from AEG and from outside the box.
Neither Ings nor Watkins gets into the box enough for me nor do they seem physically able to dominate defenders and that remains a problem. So Ings may well move on in the summer, possibly as part of a swop deal?
It’s hard to argue with the comments on Mings but he is a leader on the pitch and the defence is less organised when he doesn’t play – I see problems without him against Brentford. I suspect Hause will come in but none of the back four strike me as being vociferous leaders on the pitch – who will get the captains armband? Contrary to Badgers view I think defence (along with mid field) will be a priority for Gerrard and wouldn’t be surprised to see a CH come in January – but don’t ask me who as I haven’t got a Scooby. I’m less than impressed with Tuanzebe and would send him back to United if we had other options.
Agree with Badger in that we seem to have a number of mid field and attacking players that probably need more time to prove themselves. Sanson, I thought played well against Chelsea particularly given his general lack of playing time since joining us. With Nakamba out he has a real chance to prove himself and I think he might yet prove to be a valuable acquisition.
Alongside Davis, I can definitely see at least one of Traore, AEG or Trezeguet leaving in January with Gerrard looking to bring in at least one new midfielder possibly on loan.
Finally on Bailey,ther seems to be a growing view that he’s (another) injury prone sick note. However, over the last four season playing for Bayer Leverkusen he has appeared in 29/30 games (out of 34) in three; only in one season 19/20 did that drop to 22 – so it seems premature to me to jump to any conclusions.
He also joined us recovering from injury and missed the pre-season completely all of which will have increased his injury risk – add to that comments from players which suggested they weren’t fit enough under the previous regime – and I think we need to be patient.
Where there have been concerns is over his consistency and that may still be an issue but we should also remember that he’s still only 24.
Apologies for the long winded ramble.
“Neither Ings nor Watkins gets into the box enough for me nor do they seem physically able to dominate defenders and that remains a problem.”
Two good points there, I think…
Firstly, not getting into the box: is this why we seem to win so-few penalties? I really think that we miss-out simply because our stikers seem to prefer to shoot from distance, rather than go mix-it in the area and try and increase the chances of a foul, hanball, etc.
Then the physicality point: absolutely. Peter Withe, Dion Dublin, John Carew – where are the big physical forwards who can bully defenders (Lukaku did it to us…)?
Ardent, I agree, we just don’t have that physical player , Withe, Dublin they never ran all over the pitch they didn’t have too. West Ham have Antonio, Chelsea had Laluka , lots of clubs have that one man that puts the fear of God in the game. We have Mings.!, I’m watching Norwich being shown how slow they are ,that coaching needs to be sorted they are like we was unfit.
I specifically remember someone pumping a long ball to Ollie on the left against Chelsea.
The trouble was he faced three defenders in front of him and the nearest Villa player was probably 30 yards behind. It’s this detachment that causes a lot of our attacking problems and why we play long balls is just beyond me.
There ought to be a one grand fine for anyone who does it, imo.
Is this because the midfield plays too deep or is it purely because the mids can’t get up and down the pitch quickly enough?
One thing the top teams have in common is sheer hard effective running.
I don’t think we have that overall and it’s highlighted even more when McGinn doesn’t play because he’s our best runner in the middle.
The midfielders appear to expend a lot of energy going sideways, rather than front to back; McGinn is the only one who likes to drive forward regularly, and occasionally Luiz will try it – although his runs tend to be more diagonal.
I did hope against Chelsea that Ramsey might have tried his direct runs into the box again, but alas he was playing very deep for most of the game.
I don’t recall thinking the midfield were overplaying the sideways ball against Chelsea and Sanson and Ramsey each made a number of forward runs although I agree neither actually got into the box.
I think Badger has it in that we played a lot deeper against Chelsea partly, I suspect, because it was Chelsea and partly because we were missing McGinn, Nakamba and, to some extent, Young.
I see more managers are now criticising the EPL for expecting the fixture schedule to be adhered despite the current situation with Covid. I have a lot of sympathy for their position – two matches two days apart with depleted squads is just idiotic and disadvantages clubs that cannot get games postponed to later in the season yet have only a minimum of players available. Smith, I thought, made a good case in his post match interview.
On the other hand I have little sympathy over the so called problems with ‘rescheduling games’ as it only really applies to four or five clubs who have the largest and most experienced squads – tough. Make them play extra games close together if necessary!
And Wenger wants a biennial World Cup on top of all the other international competitions requiring release of players – completely nuts.
Hitch, I thought Sanson played quite well; in the same way that I see Konsa ‘playing well’ – in that I hardly noticed them, they did nothing wrong and were generally ‘reliable’. To me that’s fine.
But I can’t say I really remember Sanson doing anything particulalrly noticeable or creative in the Chelsea half.
Again, it may be just that I missed it, and was concentrating on other players.
Ardent, it’s really interesting that you say that about Ramsey.
Take a look at the graphic here;
https://www.footballinsider247.com/agbonlahor-ramsey-is-now-undroppable-at-aston-villa-after-twitter-reveal/
Ramsey might have made the “most progressive yards”, but I can’t say I noticed it in the slightest.
It sounds like you didn’t either and I haven’t seen any Villa fan even mention it, I don’t think.
Yet another meaningless stat, to my mind. It’s okay having great numbers, but if they’re not having any effect on the game…..
And if Gabby’s saying anything, I look at it as total rubbish, but that’s another subject.
Well, for a start, it seems to come from Agbonlahor, which for me is “enuff said”.
But more generally, I do wonder about some of the stats that I see flashed-up on screen when I’m watching games – I often wonder whether I’m watching the same game, or exactly who/what (artificial intelligence?) is actually calculating these figures.
If Ramsey made any forward runs from the centre-line to the edge of the Chelsea box, I must have missed them…
I see our John Terry found himself a job at Chelsea, head of coaching staff in the Academy. Good luck to him but tell us why you left , the truth please.
Just my opinion, but I think he left because somebody was dangling a prospective job at Chelsea (in some form) in front of him…
I see “B’ham Live” again linking us with a move for Joe Gomez from Liverpool; apparently a few people have noted him as a possible ‘upgrade’ on Mings.
Has anyone actually seen him play? Would he be an impovement?
He seems to miss loads of games, Ardent.
81 league appearances since 2015-16 inclusive according to Wiki.
All we need, another ‘sick-note’…
I had high hopes of Tuanzebe having an impact but he hasn’t taken his chances when presented to him. Hause for me hasn’t done anything wrong when he has played and out of all our CB’s he is easily the best in the air in ours and the opposition box. He probably would have made a better fist of Lukaku’s header than Mings, although in fairness to Mings he is definitely our most vocal leader in the back four.
I assume Tuanzebe will end up back at Man Ure so we will probably need a new CB. I don’t know much about Gomez but could he be just another Tuanzebe? Not good enough for their parent clubs first team so should they be considered good enough for us?
This season has been quite dramatic already after losing Jack and Dean plus our really poor start. However I think there are plenty of positives. The kids are starting to show real promise and our forward play is quicker and more varied and not reliant on one individual. I think SG will improve us and instill his winning mentality on everyone. If he turns us into a top six club and gets his dream move, then I suppose we will be in a better position to appoint another top coach and continue moving onwards and upwards. 🙂
I tend to watch Man City games because Jack plays for them. I like Grealish and remember those amazing plays that he made for us. How exciting when he absolutely stuffed defences with slight of hand moves that had us drooling with excitement. Now I watch him play with City and think that I really should get out my Lego and predictably make a square or a wall or I might put a white one next to a red one and then have one with a bit of shite on. I should mention that Jameson is part of my comment. I would rather watch Villa win, lose, completely feck it up but give me reason to love them as I always have done and always will. There is no better reason to live, avoid Covid, or be happy with just almost.
Courtesy of @VillaAnalytics;
“Ings’ non-penalty xG per 90 of 0.15 and xA per 90 of 0.02 is the lowest of any Premier League forward to play at least 800 minutes this season.”
Hmm, why am I not surprised?
Birmingham live…
Villa and Man Utd ‘in negotiations’ over loan transfer
Manchester United loanee Axel Tuanzebe could leave Aston Villa in January, according to reports.
The defender joined Villa on loan for the duration of the 2021/22 campaign, but is now said to be attracting interest from Italian giants Napoli ahead of the January transfer window opening next month.
He has only made four Premier League starts this season and under new Villa boss Steven Gerrard, Tuanzebe has only seen eight minutes of action from off the bench in seven games.
And according to Sky Sport Italia transfer pundit Gianluca Di Marzio, ‘negotiations are in progress’ with both Villa and United to interrupt the loan mid-season and for Tuanzebe to switch to Napoli for the rest of the campaign.
Napoli boss Luciano Spalletti wants a new centre-back after the Serie A club sold Kostas Manolas to Olympiacos, while Kalidou Koulibaly is nursing an injury and potentially going on international duty next month with Senegal at the Africa Cup of Nations.
He can go, no problem. And I think he will.
Hause is better back up, imo.
Ashley Preece has done another one of those Q&A things and here’s one interesting comment he came out with;
“Gerrard’s had six weeks to look at this group now and he wants to shape his squad the way he wants it. He made 45 signings in three years at Rangers with 31 outgoings.”
Actually it’s worth a read and I know it’s the Birmingham Mail, but he does have access to those in the club, after all.
Check out the comments section;
https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/aston-villa-transfer-news-sawiris-22601979?__vfz=medium%3Demail_notification#vf-199ef18e-68ac-4f8b-ad11-f2db35ebaf50
Some interesting comments in the Q&A but nothing really startling on the transfer front. I assume Villa will want to have secured a replacement for Tuanzebe before agreeing to a break in the loan arrangement. Also will it entitle Villa to replace him with a new loan – I assume so.
I found ‘(Gerrard) has been blown away by (Villa’s) recruitment department’ and that ‘(Gerrard) has been very impressed with Sanson over his first six weeks’ particularly revealing.
No, nothing startling, but snippets of indicators, I felt.
I take Gerrard’s view of the recruitment dept with a pinch of salt tbh.
No disrespect intended but we’re playing a totally different game to Rangers.
Yes, Gerrard’s opinion about Sanson was nice to hear.
But the best bit for me is that Preece thinks we’re definitely after a monster midfielder.
As long as it’s not Kamara – no better than what we have.
Denis Zakaria at Borussia M. would be more of a statement imo and with his contract running out in the summer there’s a deal to be done in January and, at 25, he ticks all the Villa boxes
I suspect though he’ll be looking for a club playing in Europe.
Agree about Kamara. I really don’t believe that Rangers have anyone who would be an improvement on any existing player at Villa.
News from VP –
Gerrard will be at the Brentford game which is really good news.
On team news it seems that Young has a ‘minor’ fracture of his little toe and Sunday might be too early. Long term absentees are Bailey and Nakamba and Mings is suspended. Otherwise – subject to the next round of Covid testing – everyone else is fit to go.
Sky are reporting that Gerrard has said he not only wants to keep Tuanzebe for the remainder of his loan but isclooking to extend his stay beyond the summer. He was quite effusive in his praise so he clearly sees something in training which we haven’t seen on the pitch. It will be interesting to see whether he goes with Hause or Tuanzebe Sunday.
Other transfer ‘news’ – its being reported that Watford have made an enquiry about Hause.
I will benlivid if we let Hause go to Watford.
Happy New Year boys and girls!!!
3 points today? Glad to see Meatball back…
Happy New Year to all
Up the mighty Villa
Happy new year fellow Villans. Let’s hope 2022 brings us many great victories. UTV!
Happy new year everyone. Let’s hope it’s a good one.
Bum bum, we play tomorrow mate 🙂
God knows what’s happened to the like button, the plug-in has just totally disappeared. I’ll give it a day or two and see if it comes back.
It appears to be back – as elusive as Mr. Sanson? 🙂
Ha! Cheers Badger. I’d settled down in front of the telly and thought it’d been cancelled like JK Rowling!!!
It seems Tuanzebe’s loan switch to Napoli is gaining traction notwithstanding Gerrard’s claimed interest in keeping the player.
I’m now beginning to think Gerrard is just making sure that Villa get a large portion of their loan fee back.
Tuanzebe to Italy has been pretty much confirmed in the Mail online, which I am likely to believe. Does this mean SG must sign a quality defender and then make Mings a squad player? I’m sure you like this thought Badger!
Think you’re probably right Sid – Tuanzebe transfer I mean – and Gerrard will have to bring in another CB.
Confirmed that Davis is joining Notts Forest on loan for the rest of the season.
Does that suggest Archer will stay at Villa as third striker behind Watkins and Ings? And if so it suggests they see Archer, not Davis, as the future. If that’s the case then Ings has to become more of a physical CF.
B’ham Live are still linking us with a move for Firmino
(Happy New Year to all…)
There is a lot of speculation around Gerrard’s comment about ‘a signing to excite the (Villa) fans’.
He must have his eyes on a really top class signing that he thinks he can pull of. If Firmano were to come, what is the future for Ings as surely a Firmano / Watkins partnership looks a really exciting prospect?
If it happens I can see us moving Ings on.
Yes, I gather the idea would be to play Firminio alongside Watkins.
Guess that would leave Ings as another short-term, big loss (like Wesley, if he ends up going back to Brazil).
Hopefully Ings would still command a reasonable sell on fee
Well, I suppose we could always try to flogg him to Newcastle.
I can’t see anyone else paying £30m for him!